Chap. LXIX. 
STATE OF TRADE. 
515 
those numerous streams which are said to join the 
river at that remarkable place, while, on the con- 
trary, these streams issue from the river, and after 
running inland for a short time, return to join the 
main trunk, though of course with decreased volume, 
owing to absorption and evaporation. 
All the people of the town who did not belong to 
any trade or profession, together with the inhabitants 
of the neighbouring districts, were still busily em- 
ployed with the rice harvest ; and this was a serious 
affair for my horses, a much smaller quantity of 
byrgu, that is to say, of that excellent nutritious 
grass of the Niger, which I have had repeatedly 
occasion to mention, being brought into the town. 
Meanwhile the price of the merchandise from the 
north went on increasing. A piece of kham, or 
malti (unbleached calico), now sold for 5700 shells 
(at least on the 26th of January), but in the be- 
ginning of February it rose to 7200 ; this fluctuation 
in the prices constitutes the profit of the merchants, 
who buy their supplies on the arrival of a caravan 
and store it up. 
The commercial activity of the town had received 
some further increase, owing to the arrival of another 
caravan from Tawat, with black Hausa manufactures, 
tobacco, and dates, so that I was able to lay in a 
good store of this latter luxury, which is not always 
to be got here, but which, in the cold season, is not 
at all to be despised. Besides receiving a hand- 
some present of dates from my noble Tawati friend 
LL 2 
